Dehydration occurs when your body excretes more fluids than it takes in. It can sometimes be difficult to tell if you’re dehydrated because the symptoms aren’t always obvious, like feelings of thirst, dizziness, or fatigue. Look out for these subtle signs to tell you if you are slightly or severely dehydrated.
Bad breath: being dehydrated limits the amount of saliva you can produce, which leads to the growth of bacteria in the mouth.
Dry skin: pinch your skin and see how long it takes to go back to its normal appearance. If it stays ‘tented,’ you’re likely dehydrated.
Food cravings: without enough water, your body cannot break down glycogen and release glucose into the bloodstream, so your food cravings will intensify. When you’re dehydrated, your body will sometimes tell your brain that it’s hungry, which can make you mistake thirst for hunger and reach for food rather than water.
Headaches: without enough water, the brain can temporarily contract or shrink from fluid loss and, as a result, it pulls away from the skull, which gives you a headache. Drinking enough water will plump up your brain and return it to its normal state.
Adults need eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (or 2 litres). Other drinks like soda, sports drinks, or juice don’t count. Just stick to the basics and pour yourself a few ice-cold glasses of water to keep you healthy and hydrated.